UPSP shipping costs are not out of line to reality

[kgheirloom]

I have installed the USPS shipping module. It functions properly, but the costs are not in line either with the product size and weight nor the actual USPS shipping costs at the Post Office. Two recent examples are: a $5 necklace shipped for $18 and a 7lb item shipped for $5.63. Obviously, the $18 shipping was out of line (even if the customer completed the order), but the 7lb item actually cost $13.86 when we took the box to the Post Office----which is 25 miles from our business location!!!!!!
I am losing everything on shipping or ripping people off.
I added a handling fee in the background, but that only raised the jewelry and small item costs to almost $25 and still kept the heavy packages under $10.
USPS is no help as they don't even know what online shipping modules are and they say Zen Cart is third party so it is their problem. There is no way to get an answer from Zen Cart so....it is my problem!!
Either I get shipping costs into line, or I take down Zen Cart entirely and go with websites and Paypal and UPS. Looking for some immediate resolve or Zen Cart and USPS are history.
Thanks for any assistance.

[bislewl]

I have installed the USPS shipping module. It functions properly, but the costs are not in line either with the product size and weight nor the actual USPS shipping costs at the Post Office. Two recent examples are: a $5 necklace shipped for $18 and a 7lb item shipped for $5.63. Obviously, the $18 shipping was out of line (even if the customer completed the order), but the 7lb item actually cost $13.86 when we took the box to the Post Office----which is 25 miles from our business location!!!!!!
I am losing everything on shipping or ripping people off.
I added a handling fee in the background, but that only raised the jewelry and small item costs to almost $25 and still kept the heavy packages under $10.
USPS is no help as they don't even know what online shipping modules are and they say Zen Cart is third party so it is their problem. There is no way to get an answer from Zen Cart so....it is my problem!!
Either I get shipping costs into line, or I take down Zen Cart entirely and go with websites and Paypal and UPS. Looking for some immediate resolve or Zen Cart and USPS are history.
Thanks for any assistance.

There have been some recent issues, with the USPS API even after the most recent update. I know I have revised the module and it should be coming out in in the the next version of Shipping Boxes Manager. That also supports shipping by box sizes. to increase the reliability of your estimates.
Here is a link:
http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=1826

[RixStix]

If your USPS estimates are skewed that much, it is likely that there are issues with your specific setups.

Are the product weights accurate?
What "Tare" weight(s) do you have setup for shipping?
What USPS methods are you quoting? 1stclass, flatrate, etc

If you are quoting Small Flat Rate packaging to a customer then packaging in your own box, the actual rate will be much higher.
If you are quoting 1st class but also using a default, 3 pound tare weight, the rate will be much higher.

Much more information from you is needed for someone to offer more detailed assistance.

[kgheirloom]

Our product weights are much higher than true weights in hopes of getting into line with actual shipping costs. That worked for a while, but now I'm losing money on shipping again.
EXAMPLE: A necklace weighs at the 3 pounds the module begins with plus the additional half pound we add to it. The last necklace shipped for $18 which the customer actually agreed to pay to get the item. Were we surprised!
The last package I shipped actually weighed 1 pound and was in a box 9 inches by 12 inches by 3 inches. I made the item 2 pounds. When the customer ordered two of these, the shipping came to 7 pounds----actually weighing only 4 pounds. The box I put the items in was just a tiny bit larger than both items. I should have had enough eight margin to cover my cost, but no. Item cost $13.83 and customer paid $3.65 for shipping from Tennessee to California. Lost any profit on that order, plus more.

I only have first class and priority shipping turned on in the USPS module.
I do not have any other shipping methods turned on except UPS, which no one ever chooses, but often I can ship cheaper that way than the post office.
As stated, the post office is 25 miles away.
I do not have anything else turned on because everything we produce is a different size and cost. Too many variables for flat rate or dollar value shipping etc.

I tried adding a handling fee to each package, but shipping went to almost 20 dollars on small items and nobody purchased.
Set it back to just the USPS First Class.....that's not working to cover my costs now even with often outrageous weights added on.

Suggestions, please.

[stevesh]

I'm not sure exactly what the issue is, but I would check this first if a four pound package is shipping at seven pounds:

http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?...unds-too-heavy

USPS should calculate the proper postage without you having to add weight. I would think that the USPS Flat Rate Boxes program would be ideal for items such as jewelry. have you looked into that?

[kgheirloom]

But, how can you offer flat rate shipping on only certain items and not others? Our items are all different shapes, sizes, and costs. I only comprehend turning on options that give the customer the choice of what they want to pay for. If I turn on flat rate box, they'll choose that, but an item might be too big to put into that size a box. If there is a way to dedicate flat rate to certain items, UPS to others, and weight or different method to other items I'd be up for that, but I haven't found an option to do that. I only see turn it all on and the customer chooses their shipping method.

[RixStix]

The way we do it is to identify which products will fit within the various flat rate boxes. Then, we set max weights on each flatrate box that differs from the USPS default. Products which will fit within the boxes are then weighed just slightly under that max weight.

If a customer chooses a product that will not fit within a small FR box, our ficticious weight causes the small FR box to be removed from the offerings.
Similar for 1st Class.

FYI: the max limit for 1st class is 13 ounces, so your 4 pound product can never go 1st class.

What is your "Tare" weight setting for Small/Med boxes? (as indicated in Stevesh post above)
Admin: Configuration: Shipping/Packaging Package Tare Small to Medium

[kgheirloom]

Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 0:3

[RixStix]

That setting says to

Add 3 pounds to the total weight of the package (used to estimate shipping charges) to compensate for the box and packing materials

[kgheirloom]

Tried that. USPS defaults with three pounds. By adding three pounds, the item would ship at 6 pounds, but UPSP checkout always brings the price down somewhere between $3 and $6.
I am missing something to get these costs.